Even after cropping the size of the proposed special investment region (SIR) at Mandal-Becharaji region, it seems that the government so far has not been able to contain the farmers' agitation against the SIR fully, as a few of the eight villages that have been notified under the SIR do not wish to be a part of it. At the same time, a pro-SIR voice is also becoming strong in some villages of the region.
Hansalpur, Ughroj and Ughrojpura are strongly against the proposed SIR. As Ajmal Thakor, village chief of Hansalpur said, "We will continue to protest against the government's decision to include these villages in the SIR. We do not want to be a part of the investment region and would take out rallies to voice our protest. The government has taken such a step to ensure a smooth passage to the upcoming Maruti Suzuki plant as all these villages fall in a straight line adjoining the proposed plant site."
According to the recent government decision, 36 out of the 44 villages that were part of the original SIR plan were removed from the proposed Mandal-Becharaji SIR. After the re-structuring, eight villages were included as a part of the SIR, Hansalpur ,the site for Maruti Suzuki's proposed plant, Sitapur, Ughroj, Ughrojpura , Ukardi, Shihor, Bhagapara and Chandanki. The size of the SIR was brought down from over 500 sq km to around 100 sq kms in the wake of farmers' protests.
Hasmukh Vaghela, sarpanch of Ughrojpura village said, "Farmers do not wish to join the SIR as they want to stick to farming which is their main source of livelihood. We do not wish to become industrial labourers. In our village more than 50 per cent of the land would be gone if the SIR happens, we would not be left with enough cultivable land to pursue agriculture." Samad Thakore, sarpanch of nearby Ughroj village too stated in clear terms that his village did not want to be a part of the SIR for similar reasons. "We would get a little bit of cash by selling our land, but that is exhausted soon, and we lose our land or asset as well," he said.
In contrast, sarpanch of one of biggest villages in the region Sitapur (3,672 Ha) had a different approach. Amarsingh Thakor, Sitapur sarpanch said that his village was yet to take a call on whether or not they wanted to be a part of the SIR.
"We have decided to call a Gram Sabha meeting to discuss the issue, but as of now we are neutral on the matter. We are neither against nor in favour of the SIR," he said. Thakor, however, was quick to add that if a win-win situation can be worked out whereby farmers also get good price for their land and also retain sizeable portions of their prime agricultural land to pursue farming, then majority of villagers might not oppose the SIR.
In the meanwhile, two social activists, Sagar Rabari and Lalji Desai, convenors of Jamin Adhikar Andolan Gujarat (JAAG), were arrested and later released on bail on Sunday. These leaders, who are spearheading the farmers' protest against the SIR, were burning posters of Maruti Suzuki behind the plant site.
It is interesting to note here that Ajmal Thakor and Ramabha, village chiefs of Hansalpur and Vithlapur, sites for Maruti's proposed plants, said that they have no opposition if the plant comes up.
D D Chandani, chief executive officer of the Mandal-Becharaji SIR, informed that his office is yet to receive any formal complaint or opposition letter from the villagers in the area regarding the eight villages which have been made a part of the restructured SIR. "Not all farmers are opposed to the SIR plan. Many have not clearly understood the development plan of the SIR. Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) is acquiring land for its estate in villages like Ukardi, Chandanki and Shihor and farmers are selling land with full consent."
